The "enemies" Zacharias speaks of aren't just literal armies; they represent the deeper spiritual forces like sin and Satan that hold us captive. This isn't about a political rescue but a profound deliverance that sets us free to truly serve God.
that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit after regaining his speech, bursts into prophecy about the coming salvation announced by John. He elaborates on the "horn of salvation" God has raised up, explaining it signifies deliverance, not just from literal enemies like Roman oppressors, but ultimately from spiritual foes. This salvation fulfills God's ancient promises to Abraham, ensuring believers can serve God freely and righteously.
When Zacharias speaks of being saved from 'enemies,' what kind of enemies does he mean? Were they just earthly foes, or something more profound?
A Two-Fold Deliverance
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, uses language that resonates deeply with Old Testament prophecies. Initially, the "enemies" and "those who hate us" could certainly bring to mind the literal oppressors of Israel – like the Romans or the Idumaean House of Herod.
However, the Spirit's message here goes far beyond the political or military. The "enemies" also represent spiritual foes: sin, death, and Satan himself. This deeper understanding was available to pious Jews, and it’s the ultimate meaning Jesus came to fulfill. He saves us not just from external threats, but from the internal bondage of sin and the sting of death.
Why does being saved from enemies matter? What are we saved for?
From Captivity to Worship
Zacharias doesn't just announce a rescue operation; he reveals the purpose of this salvation. We are delivered from our enemies – both earthly and spiritual – so that we can "serve him without fear."
This isn't about passive relief. It's about liberation for a life of active devotion. When freed from the grip of sin, the terror of death, and the oppression of enemies, we are empowered to worship God authentically.
This service is characterized by "holiness and righteousness." It's a life lived in conscious awareness of God's presence, dedicated to Him in every aspect, and expressed through right living towards others. Our salvation makes possible a freedom to truly love and obey God.
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Understand the original words
sōtēria · Greek Noun
The act of being rescued or delivered from peril, oppression, or ultimate judgment. In a biblical context, it signifies God's active intervention to rescue His people, culminating in the spiritual redemption from sin and death through Christ.
eleos · Greek Noun
The disposition of compassion, kindness, or goodwill toward someone in need, often implying a withholding of deserved judgment. In the Bible, it is frequently linked to God's covenant faithfulness toward His people.
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A binding, solemn agreement between God and humanity (or a specific group). It involves mutual obligations, promises, and established relationships, with God often taking the initiative to establish the terms for His people's blessing.
horkos · Greek Noun
A solemn declaration or invocation of God to witness to the truth of a statement or the sincerity of a promise. In the biblical narrative, God’s oaths represent the unchangeable, guaranteed nature of His commitments to His people.
rhuomai · Greek Verb
The act of setting someone free from bondage, captivity, or an oppressive situation. It implies the exertion of power to rescue someone who is otherwise unable to escape their circumstances.
latreuō · Greek Verb
The act of performing duties, worship, or ministry toward God as a response to His grace. It describes the life of a believer who is devoted to God's will and service.
Zechariah's words, spoken in the first century AD, echo centuries of Jewish longing for deliverance from literal oppressors like the Romans and Syrians, but also point towards a deeper, spiritual salvation from sin and spiritual enemies, a theme prevalent in prophetic writings.
c. 175-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A Jewish rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who sought to Hellenize the Jewish people and desecrate the Temple. This period saw intense conflict and a fierce desire for divine deliverance.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome's conquest of Judea brought foreign rule and a longing among many Jews for a messianic deliverer to restore their nation.
c. 37-4 BC
Herodian Dynasty
Herod the Great ruled Judea as a client king of Rome, a period marked by political tension and a complex relationship with Roman overlords.
c. 5 BC
Birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, occurred during a time of anticipation for salvation and freedom from oppression.
c. AD 30— this verse
Birth of John the Baptist
John the Baptist, whose birth is foretold in this passage, was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, a priestly couple living in Judea.
This verse speaks of God saving His people from their enemies, echoing the language and theme of deliverance found in Luke 1:71.
Isaiah 45:17This passage highlights Israel's salvation as coming from the Lord, reinforcing the idea of divine intervention against adversaries, which aligns with Zacharias' prophecy.
1 Samuel 2:1-2Hannah's prayer of praise for deliverance from enemies uses similar language and expresses gratitude for God's strength and salvation, mirroring the spirit of Zacharias' song.
Micah 7:10This verse anticipates a future deliverance from enemies when those who hate Zion will be shamed, providing an Old Testament parallel to the promised salvation Zacharias proclaims.
Luke 1:74This verse immediately follows Luke 1:71 and explains the purpose of this salvation: to enable God's people to serve Him without fear, providing crucial context for the 'why' behind the deliverance.
cambridgeLuke 1:71: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;"
71 . That we should be saved ] Rather, Salvation —referring back to “a horn of salvation,” to which it is in apposition. The previous verse is a parenthesis. from our enemies ] No doubt in the first instance the “enemies” from which the prophets had promised deliverance were literal enemies ( Deuteronomy 33:29 ; Isaiah 14:2 ; Isaiah 51:22-23 , &c.), but every pious Jew would understand these words as a…
bensonLuke 1:71: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;"
Luke 1:71-75 . That we should be saved from our enemies — Spiritual as well as temporal, invisible as well as visible; and from the hand of all that hate us — From Satan and his angels, and all adverse power, and especially from our sins. This certainly was the mind of the Spirit that now inspired Zacharias, as appears by the whole tenor of Scripture; but whether he fully understood his own words is im…
The "enemies" Zacharias speaks of aren't just literal armies; they represent the deeper spiritual forces like sin and Satan that hold us captive. This isn't about a political rescue but a profound deliverance that sets us free to truly serve God.
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit after regaining his speech, bursts into prophecy about the coming salvation announced by John. He elaborates on the "horn of salvation" God has raised up, explaining it signifies deliverance, not just from literal enemies like Roman oppressors, but ultimately from spiritual foes. This salvation fulfills God's ancient promises to Abraham, ensuring believers can serve God freely and righteously.
Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit after regaining his speech, bursts into prophecy about the coming salvation announced by John. He elaborates on the "horn of salvation" God has raised up, explaining it signifies deliverance, not just from literal enemies like Roman oppressors, but ultimately from spiritual foes. This salvation fulfills God's ancient promises to Abraham, ensuring believers can serve God freely and righteously.
"that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we,…" — The "enemies" Zacharias speaks of aren't just literal armies; they represent the deeper spiritual forces like sin and Satan that hold us captive. This isn't about a political rescue but a profound de…
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Last reviewed October 2026
